How To Make Cross Stitched Magnets For Your Fridge

Not sure when this all began, but I have formed a mania for creating cross stitched magnets for my fridge. Actually I can pin-point this back to the Fall of 2007 when I purchase a roll of magnetic tape from the Walmart craft department. I have always adored magnets for the fridge, but I hate being limited to the ones sold in the store. In high school my sister had found a large magnet sheet and had fun creating all sorts of unique and colorful designs. Magnets on the fridge have always been important to me because for as long as I could remember my mom used these to display our art work. As we matured she began to display our report cards and school certificates on the fridge, which was always a place to admire and feel accomplishment. Also, this may sound silly, but I have found I am far less likely to go foraging through my fridge when I am bored if I decorate it in a meaningful way. Stopping to admire the magnets and the other items I have posted to the fridge, which curbs the desire to eat when I am not hungry. As an adult I have even scanned and printed out pieces of art work I gave to family and friends, so I enjoy being able to see my copies displayed prominently on the fridge.

Before Christmas I began working on a snowman crossed stitched magnet, but with the holiday festivities I did not finish him on time to hub about it. However, I like snowmen even after Christmas, and they definitely are popular to make all through the winter snow storms. Living down in the valley means the only snow I will see is by looking to my mountains above, or taking a trip up there, but my little snowman reminds me of the good aspects of snow days. What are the not so good parts about living in snow? To start with shelving and the cold itself! So creating a cross stitched magnet was the perfect way for me to have my very own snowman year around, and he definitely will not melt in the heat Southern California will soon be experiencing again with spring. Take a gander at the photos and the video below to see how I designed this delightful magnet. Hopefully this will give you a few ideas about making some of your own magnets.

Cross stitch magnets are fun for decorating the fridge with, plus they are economical to create!

Step One: Create A Snowman Shaped Character

Here I have created a snowman shaped character out of plastic canvas mesh.

I used a lid to create the three snowball shapes, each on top of each other. I simply traced around the lid, and positioned it to create each snowball. Next, I cut the snowman shape out of the plastic canvas mesh.

Step Two: Stitch On The Snowman's Eyes

Here I use a cross stitch technique to create the snowman's eyes.

I made a cross stitched several times in the same location. By cross stitching over the same holes it causes the yarn to pile up, and to create a mound shape, which looks like eyes. I love the quality of the 100% cotton brown yarn, but honest I just use what ever materials I have on hand. In the future I plan on buying more pure cotton yarn because it does hold up well with the cross stitching process. I have knitted and crocheted a few things over the years, but wondered why I never developed the penchant I had hoped I would for it. Honestly I just prefer cross stitch because it is so much more simple, and much more rewarding in the short term. I love the way the yarn looks as I cross stitch it on to the canvas plastic mesh as well.

Step Three: Stich On The Snowman's Nose

Here I have stitched on the nose.

I used the same in place cross stitching technique to create the round shape of the nose. His features make him look so cartoonish and adorable, which is what I adore about the characters I make.

Step Four: Stitch On The Snowman's Smile

Here I stitched on the snowman's smile.

I used cross stitching to create this delectable smile on the snowman.

Step Five: Sew On The Buttons

Here I have sewn on the Snowman's buttons.

Cross stitching over the same location multiple times creates the ideal little knolls, which make perfect little buttons.

Step Six: Begin Stitiching On The White Yarn

Here I begin stitching the white yarn on to the snowman's head.

Snowmen are white since they are made out of snow, so I decided to use this color of yarn on the body of my creation. First I stitched around the head, and then filled in the interior.

Step Seven: Keep Cross Stitching On The White Yarn

Continue cross stitching on the white yarn.

Continue stitching the white yarn on the snowman's head.

Step Eight: Keep On Cross Stitching The Head

Here the snowman's face is only halfway stitched on.

At this stage the snowman's head is at the midway point of being filled in.

Step Nine: Face Is Almost Filled In

Here I have cross stitched about 3/4 of the face.

In this step I have added about 3/4 of the white yarn to the face region.

Step Ten: Finish Cross Stitching The Face

Here I have completed cross stitching the face.

Once I finished cross stitching the face I was able to concentrate on the rest of the body.

Step Eleven: Begin Crossing Stitching The Red Scarf

In this stage I have begin to stitch on the snowman's red scarf.

Snowmen just look so cute with scarves, so I decided to give mine one!

Step Twelve: Add The Other Side of The Scarf

Here I have stitched on the other side of the snowman's scarf.

Cross stitch on the other side of the snowman's scarf.

Step Thirteen: Continue Stitching On The White Yarn

Here I continued stitching on the white yarn.

Here I continued stitching on the white yarn of my snowman.

Step Fourteen: Continue Stitching On The White Yarn

Here I am stitching the snowman all the way to the bottom.

Here I am cross stitching my snowman all the way down the body. I love the way the snowman looks as he is filled in, which gives me a sense of actually creating something, especially towards the end of the process.

Step Fifteen: The Snowman Is Almost Complete

Here I am happy to see his white yarn is almost completely solidified his body.

Once you get towards the end of making of cross stitching your character, this is when you will begin to catch on the addictive sensation of the rhythmic pull of the yarn. It is almost hypnotic to feel myself pushing the yarn through the holes on the plastic canvas mesh, and unlike painting or drawing, this activity allows me to watch TV!

Step Sixteen: Attach The Magnets

Here I have placed the adhesive magnets to the back of the snowman.

Once the cross stitched snowman was completed I simply affixed the adhesive magnets to his back. Now he is ready to decorate my fridge as a super cute magnet!

My Cute Cross Stitched Magnet Collection

My snowman looks super surrounded by my other cross stitched magnet. As I said, my cross stitched magnet making is becoming somewhat of an amusing addiction.

Comments

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Author

SweetiePie 6 years agofrom Southern California, USA

Hi Cross Stitch Kits,

I usually do not allow links on my hub, but I could not resist since your dog cross stitch kit looks very cute.

cross stitch kits 6 years ago

Very clever idea. I love to cross stitch but never thought of making fridge magnets, thanks for a great hub.

Author

SweetiePie 7 years agofrom Southern California, USA

Thanks for the lovely comment and support Bearclaw!

bearclawmedia 7 years agofrom Mining Planet Earth

Good hub , a lot of work, obviously. Glad to see you in the number one spot on the pages. A big round of applause for the 100 point hubber. Well deserved and hard earned, congratulations!

Author

SweetiePie 7 years agofrom Southern California, USA

Shinujohn,

I always appreciate your comments.

Nancy's Niche,

Thanks for stopping by to read and comment :).

Emievil,

I will think of making a Santa crossed stitched character as that would make an interesting hub. If you are looking for a smaller project, you could check out the hub I made about the cross stitched coaster.

emievil 7 years agofrom Philippines

Hey SP, this is great stuff! I'm thinking of having a cross-stitch project for my giveaways next Christmas. Do you have anything smaller than the snowman as a cross-stitched magnet? Maybe like a small Santa Claus or something. Will really love your input. Thanks.

Nancy's Niche 7 years ago

Thanks for sharing a very creative idea...

shinujohn2008 7 years ago

Thanks for sharing your skills on Cross Stitched Magnets

Author

SweetiePie 7 years agofrom Southern California, USA

Paradise,

Cross stitching with plastic canvas mesh is so easy, and even young kids can do it! They have instructional booklets if you do not even want to create your own cross stitched pieces, which is what I did when I was first starting out years ago. Now I love to create my own, and it is pretty easy if you just set down and use your imagination. I love Michael's by the way, but I have not been there for awhile since I have way too many crafting supplies in my house :).

mod2vint,

I make the time to craft as I find my life so much richer when I do. When I do not paint, draw, or craft, I begin to feel anxious. Even doing a little bit of wood burning tonight was very calming!

agusfanani,

I am glad this hub could give you more crafting ideas.

Pete,

Yes I really do like my crafts, and they are good for pinning notes to for sure. Since they are magnetic I just put the notes under them myself though :).

Pete Maida 7 years ago

You're so crafty. They could be useful. It looks like you could pin notes to them

agusfanani 7 years agofrom Indonesia

Thank you, again it's added the portfolio of my crafting skills.

mod2vint 7 years agofrom Sunny Florida

Nice, I've always loved doing crafts. But as I've gotten older I just can't seem to find the time. I glad to see someone still enjoying handmade crafty times!!

Paradise7 7 years agofrom Upstate New York

This is great. We have a store that sells crafts supplies at a huge discount here in town, called Michael's. I might just look for the materials. They are so cute, you get such good results and make it look so easy.

Happy New Year to you, Sweetie Pie!

Author

SweetiePie 7 years agofrom Southern California, USA

Glad you enjoyed it Hello, hello!

Hello, hello, 7 years agofrom London, UK

That is fantastic. What aclever idea. Thank you for sharing.

Author

SweetiePie 7 years agofrom Southern California, USA

Hi Waynet,

Making cross stitched magnets is super fun, and kids love being able to see their own creations on the fridge. Thanks for reading and commenting :).

Wayne Tully 7 years agofrom Hull City United Kingdom

That is great and again it is something that I have to try one day with my daughter as she is getting to be quite a little creative artist at 5 years old.